(a) Unless good cause exists that makes electronic recording infeasible, a law enforcement agency shall make a complete and contemporaneous electronic recording of any custodial interrogation that occurs in a place of detention and is of an individual suspected of committing or charged with the commission of an offense under the following provisions of the Penal Code:
(1) § 19.02 (murder);
(2) § 19.03 (capital murder);
(3) § 20.03 (kidnapping);
(4) § 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping);
(5) Section 20A.02 (trafficking of persons);
(6) Section 20A.03 (continuous trafficking of persons);
(7) § 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual);
(8) § 21.11 (indecency with a child);
(9) § 21.12 (improper relationship between educator and student);
(10) § 22.011 (sexual assault);
(11) § 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault); or
(12) § 43.25 (sexual performance by a child).
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), an electronic recording of a custodial interrogation is complete only if the recording:
(1) begins at or before the time the individual being interrogated enters the area of the place of detention in which the custodial interrogation will take place or receives a warning described by Section 2(a), Article 38.22, whichever is earlier; and
(2) continues until the time the interrogation ends.

Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 2B.0202

  • in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011

(c) For purposes of Subsection (a), good cause that makes electronic recording infeasible includes the following:
(1) the individual being interrogated refused to respond or cooperate in a custodial interrogation at which an electronic recording was being made, provided that:
(A) a contemporaneous recording of the refusal was made; or
(B) the peace officer or agent of the law enforcement agency conducting the interrogation attempted, in good faith, to record the individual’s refusal but the individual was unwilling to have the refusal recorded, and the peace officer or agent contemporaneously, in writing, documented the refusal;
(2) the statement was not made as the result of a custodial interrogation, including a statement that was made spontaneously by the accused and not in response to a question by a peace officer;
(3) the peace officer or agent of the law enforcement agency conducting the interrogation attempted, in good faith, to record the interrogation but:
(A) the recording equipment did not function;
(B) the officer or agent inadvertently operated the equipment incorrectly; or
(C) the equipment malfunctioned or stopped operating without the knowledge of the officer or agent;
(4) exigent public safety concerns prevented or rendered infeasible the making of an electronic recording of the statement; or
(5) the peace officer or agent of the law enforcement agency conducting the interrogation reasonably believed at the time the interrogation commenced that the individual being interrogated was not taken into custody for or being interrogated concerning the commission of an offense listed in Subsection (a).


Text of article effective on January 01, 2025